Page 14 of Secret Cinderella
Finn had a twinkle in his gaze. “The money is astronomical. After this I’m getting a car.”
Antonio joined them, directing Jack and his brothers to tailors to get their measurements. "What kind do you want, Finn?"
Jack tried to formulate a plan. If he was all dressed to the nines and showed up at Charlotte’s house, how would she react?
He’d now be the kind of guy she wished for her stepsisters. Would she realize that with him, they could both be happy?
The idea of giving Charlotte whatever she wanted didn’t leave his thoughts as Finn answered Antonio. “Ferrari. What about you, Jack? You have to retire your junker.”
All eyes went to him. His brothers were the gearheads, not him. He’d be rational about it. “I guess I’ll get a Mercedes.”
Finn chuckled while the workers handed Jack a pair of trousers to put on and asked, “What class?”
“I don’t know.” Jack dropped his jeans and plaid shirt in a heap and pulled on the softest pair of pants he’d ever worn.
William asked, “What’s Charlotte’s favorite?”
“I don’t know. She likes a convertible,” he answered without thinking, remembering their prom when they’d rented a nice car for a few hours.
Will said, “So the SLC Roadster for Jack.”
Good. That sounded like the perfect way for Charlotte to finally see that she didn’t want Antonio, not when she had Jack, right here with her, forever.
Chapter 6
Friday at the store had passed unusually slow. Jack hadn't come in to work, and hadn't dropped in. The infamous magazine cover guy, Antonio Morgan, hadn’t called, but that was as it should be. Dreams didn't exactly come true for a girl like Charlotte Masters. She had walked home from work in her holey sneakers to wait for a rented dress to feel pretty in, but the mail was late.
Drat.
Nancy, Linda, and Mickey pulled up in their black Buick Escalade and filed out right at the moment the mailman came.
Charlotte raced past them to get her RentGlamour.com packages she’d ordered last night. Before Antonio hadn’t called. Before she’d cried. Or worked ten hours on her feet without Jack next to her. That was the worst as she normally shared her bad nights or life stories with him, and he hadn't been there today.
The box was too bulky to hide. Linda batted her fake eyelashes when she held out her hand in the driveway. “Charlotte, did you order this for me?”
She held the box firmly in her grip and refused to give in as she said, “No, it’s actually for me.”
Linda’s face had a hint of red she got when mad. Her friends knew better than to comment on it. “You must be joking.”
Nancy directed them all inside the dilapidated two-story house that had once been worth millions before her stepmother squandered the money on useless things that didn’t help run a store or keep up the property value. With the repairs needed, they’d be lucky to get half the value. Charlotte stepped over a tossed black heel near the front door. “I’m a Masters. Been one all my life and I’d like to see the House of Morgan up close.”
Mickey said, “Those aren’t the type of men that will want to work in a store with you, not like your Jack.”
Why did everyone assume she and Jack… he hadn’t been at work today and the shift had dragged.
Jack was her spot of sunshine in the day and she’d missed him sorely. He’d have told her why it was okay that Antonio hadn’t called her and what to do next.
And she’d have listened. Jack usually was right, even if she didn’t tell him so half the time. She hadn’t changed her decision to go as he wasn’t with her to guide her. “Look, this dress is for me and I’m going.”
Nancy walked over, dark eyes narrowed as she read the brand Nicole Miller on the box. Charlotte’s breath grew short and she trembled as Nancy reached for the package and said, “I’m sure this will look perfect for Linda, and let’s be honest, Charlotte, if you go then there is no one to manage the store.”
No. Nancy hadn't even seen the dress since Charlotte had chosen it online. This time she would not let Nancy win. She couldn’t. She lifted her chin and moved so the box wasn’t in Nancy’s grip. “I’ve already worked ten hours today. You’ve hired managers.”
Nancy put her hand on her hip and said, “And fired them.”
Oh no. This was one of Nancy’s ways to take control. Charlotte understood the maneuvers and saw the warning signs. She’d lose. But the truth was she’d lost last night anyhow, when Antonio hadn’t called. She sniffed the stale air as the air conditioner wasn’t on yet. “When did Talia get fired?”
Nancy’s stone-black eyes had Charlotte backing up as she said, “Today.”
